Who said marijuana is a safe drug because it is not addictive? Produced by Sandra L.Owen,BSN,MEd,FASHA Clinical Instructor, Emerita Georgia State University, College of Education Department, Kinesiology and Health I have heard this. How many of you have heard this? How many of you agree that marijuana is not addictive? How many of you agree that marijuana is addictive? Let’s check the facts and find out!

Marijuana Addiction ? Facts on AddictionFacts 1. How do you define addiction? Always seeking and having to use the drug even though the user is aware of the severe negative consequences. 1 in 6 users who start as a teen will become addicted to marijuana. 2. Why do you think a user would continue to use marijuana again and again making the user at risk for addiction? THC effects emotion by acting on the limbic region of the brain and increases dopamine which makes the user feel happy or feel better.

If you were to make a guess, what percent of your friends do you think don’t see any harm in using marijuana? About 13% of 7 th graders and 22% of 8 graders in the U.S. think that their friends don’t see any harm in using marijuana. Now let’s get personal and HONEST! How many of you don’t see any harm in using marijuana? About 13% of 7 th graders and 17% of 8 th graders in the U.S. don’t see any harm in using marijuana. Yet, marijuana dependence, leading to addiction, is most prevalent in teens. Withdrawal symptoms, such as anxiety, make it difficult to quit. Many attempt on average six times. Currently, no medication exists to treat marijuana addiction.

Here is what you can do if you have a friend who is currently using marijuana: Encourage him/her to talk with a trusted adult. Let them know about the treatment referral helpline, help Tell them about NIDA for Teens, Most important, let them know that marijuana is addictive; that withdrawal is difficult; and that it is possible to face the stress of being a teen using healthier alternatives.

Description of Student Activity: 1. Divide class into small groups of four to include 2 people who initially agreed marijuana was addictive and 2 who initially disagreed. 2. Members in each small group are to discuss: a. His/her initial opinion about marijuana addiction and what influenced that initial opinion. b. List the facts that support marijuana addiction. c. Then,identify the group’s common points of agreement concerning marijuana addiction. Personal Application Individually, each group member is to write a paragraph about how his/her initial opinion about the addictive nature of marijuana was changed by the group discussion and class interaction. This is to be submitted to the teacher.

Initial Personal Opinion Response 1.I (agree or disagree) that marijuana is addictive because ___________________________________________. 2.I would define “addiction” as ____________________________________________. 3.I think users continue to use marijuana because ___________________________________________. 4. _____% of my friends see marijuana as not harmful. 5. I ( do or do not) see marijuana as not harmful. 6. The things I can do to help a friend who is using include:_______________________________________ _____________________________________________.